• Historic Bill to bring radical reset to local government
• Commitment to de-centralise power and ignite regional growth with streamlined powers for mayors to speed up new homes and infrastructure
• Empowering communities to take back control of their beloved local pubs and shops
• Mayor Rotheram: ‘This is a really important piece of legislation that will change the way our country is run

Mayor Steve Rotheram today hailed ‘a big step towards levelling the playing field for areas like ours’ after the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced to Parliament.

Under the Bill, local people will take back control of their regions, from bolstered rights to save cherished community assets, to a bigger voice in neighbourhood governance.

The Bill will unlock a generational shift in power from Westminster to the regions with increased powers to directly elected leaders and mayors so they can unlock housing, transport and jobs in their regions through Local Growth Plans.

Welcoming the Bill, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City region, said:

“I know that most people won’t look twice at the announcement of something called the ‘Devolution Bill’. But this is a really important piece of legislation that will change the way our country is run.

“This legislation matters because it’s about making sure decisions that affect people’s lives aren’t made hundreds of miles away in Westminster, but right here in the communities they affect by people who know the patch and understand the challenges.

“In the Liverpool City Region, we’ve already shown what we can achieve when we’re given the power to act. We’ve delivered new homes and jobs, a publicly owned train fleet, and we’re working to build a transport network that’s quicker, cheaper and easier to use. We’ve led the way on green energy, on digital connectivity, successfully piloting AI in schools and on helping people back into work.

“But we know we could do even more. This Bill is a big step towards levelling the playing field for areas like ours – giving us more of the tools we need to get on with the job and improve people’s everyday lives.

“I’m pleased to see a government that understands the value of devolution and is serious about rolling it out further. I’ll be working closely with ministers to make sure the final legislation delivers the maximum benefit for our residents – and helps us keep building a region that’s the best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business.”

The Bill will see Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Lancashire become strategic authorities – with Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, as Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, gaining the deepest powers, including a new right to request further powers.